By Janis Prince Inniss
Am I the last to know? That’s what I’m wondering now. You have no idea what I’m talking about so let’s start at the beginning.
When I started teaching online, I had never taken an online class. After all, I went to school in the prehistoric days, before everyone had a computer. I was on the cutting edge with my IBM 286—my first—as a senior!
My closest association with distance learning was my husband. He completed an entire degree online, and while I never saw the materials he used, I saw him poring over books and working on the computer for hours. Based on this sample of one, I figured online education was similar to “on the ground” education. And even though I’m not a techie, I am quite into tech toys and feel pretty fearless about trying new technologies, I waltzed into the experience with complete confidence!
Then reality hit. I took an online course to learn how to use the learning management system, Blackboard (Bb). I had heard of it, but never seen Bb in operation. Simply finding my way around Bb to take the course was a bit more of a challenge than I anticipated.
Here are some of the questions I had: What is a discussion board? Why are people telling me (and everyone else) their life stories in their introductions? Where is the paper? I was so used to holding paper when I studied that reading everything on a computer screen was very disorienting. I couldn’t underline or write on the screen the way I was used to doing when I studied.
My panic began when my manager started giving me regular reminders that I needed to develop my course—months before I was due to begin teaching. I couldn’t understand why I had to do this so early nor how I would do it. I passed the Bb course but didn’t feel much clearer on what I was doing, because I had no clear picture of how I would teach in this medium. How was I going to lecture? Was there a video camera somewhere? Where was I going to work out problems for the statistics course?
Finally, my manager provided some more direction, but if I understood what was required of me, I didn’t have to do a lecture! I thought that was odd, but I was happy that I was on the road to doing what was asked of me. So I created tests, and discussion questions based on concepts. And with that, I was done…at least with the set-up!
I emphasized my availability to answer questions and explain concepts to students but they didn’t take me up on those offers. So what was I being paid for exactly? Don’t misunderstand; all of the setting-up took lots of time. And I did take time grading the discussion forums and was very conscientious about responding promptly to students' emails. But where was the instruction? So many people are highly phobic about math and all things number-related that I really wanted to be able to show students how easy (and fun!) statistics could be.
When I teach statistics on campus, I demonstrate each new type of problem on the board (sometimes more than once) before having everyone in the class work on similar problems. Students can work on their own or in groups and I walk around to offer direction. This is how most of my students get it. I see them copying the steps from the board and coaching each other along. Regardless of their learning style—most of us are one or a combination of visual, verbal, active, reflective, sensing or intuitive learners—this method of teaching has something for everyone.
Contrast this with my online course and I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of learner does well with a textbook, tests, and weekly opportunities to discuss concepts. I still can’t think of any and so I learned how to add lectures and demonstrations to my online courses. This effort was costly, both because I had to buy the necessary techie toys, and because it took hours to learn another technology and then use it.
The big surprise came when students told me that after many years of taking on-line courses, these were their very first lectures! I also heard from colleagues that the on-line courses they are familiar with have no lectures!
Am I the last to find out that I didn’t need to go through all of this to produce lectures? I think I owe my students my expertise as a teacher to help them learn; what responsibilities do schools have for helping their students process information? Why are there tuition costs associated with self-study courses?
This documentary, College Inc., discusses the inability of community colleges to meet the demands of the student market. “For profit” schools have filled this hole, catering to adult learners with online courses, but does educational quality suffer in this format? If so, is that necessarily the case? Do online courses that lack lectures impact the quality of higher education?
I took my first online class this semester as a student and identity with a great deal of what you said. I feel as though I am posting blogs reviewing text books chapter not actually learning anything. I wish I had lectures and not some teacher traveling overseas passing out A’s.
I took my first online course about a year ago and I agree that it was a big change. I was so used to having a teacher talk to me and explain things that I had difficulty learning from the online course. I started to get the hang of it about half way through but I never got the full grasp of the class that I feel I could have if I would have been in a classroom setting.
This article does a good job of explaining how going from a person teaching you to a computer can be challenging. From this I can see that it is really based on the person if online courses are right. She shows great character by going out of her way to put up more material for her students.
I have not taken any online classes but i dont see the need in taking them. I learn by watching doing concept and discussions. That is my opinion I know everyone learns differently but i still think that the student needs to have the in classroom time not just online classes.
I have never taken an online class before, but I can see it being very stressful without any lectures. I have to have someone their giving me a lecture on how to do the homework and what to do. I won’t learn anything if they just give me a page number in a textbook and say read it. I think more online teachers should use your method of teaching an online class. It would benefit the teacher on how each student learns in the classroom and how better off the student would be if the online class had some lectures.
i have not taken any online classes and i think is a good idea to have that opportunity to be able to tak it. because some people like it and rather do that but on the other hand we need to to have classrooms too. some people like to have someone explaining thing in person.
Like many people commenting, I have not taken an online class. I have heard people talking about them and from what I have heard they are nothing special. Many of the people I talk to do not even like them for the exact reasons you are stating. I feel like I would not learn much from an online class because I like to see and hear what is being taught. I like having the opportunity to go in before class and have a small face to face lesson. That is how I learn and I may differ from other students.
I have also never taken an online class or really even took a glance at one. I’m sure I wouldn’t have trouble with it, but I imagine a few problems that could happen. Being on the computer the whole time would possibly cause me to forget things easily and I would not be used to my normal learning methods. Teaching has a lot to do with interaction with the students to make sure they fully understand and there is no way of doing this online. I am more of a hands-on learner and would probably struggle with online classes as well.
I’ve taught online at a for-profit school, two different community colleges, and a university. All of the different online systems have a lot of potential but I don’t think they are being used effectively by most (myself included).
I have big plans to develop podcasts, narrated PowerPoint lectures, and video lectures. Eventually, I plan to have each delivery method available for most if not all topics (for my online students and in-person students). I want students to be able learn the material in the way that best fits their learning style and life. For instance, they could listen to a podcast on their commute to campus, while exercising, or cooking dinner. If they have slow internet (and many of my students do), then video might not work for them, but some students need a visual (even if it is of boring ole me).
As I am learning new things outside of the traditional school model, you have these kinds of options. There are online classes for almost anything you want. They are leaps and bounds ahead of what most higher ed is currently offering. I think what is limiting higher ed is the importance of the credential. We have to be able to reasonably prove that a student did the work within a certain time frame. You don’t have those limitations for learning new things outside of the higher ed model. You can learn at your own pace and learn effectively, but you don’t get the credential. I don’t think that educational quality has to suffer in an online format, but for most it is.
My name is Brittany Mrs. Prince Inniss, and I kind of agree with your article but not much. I am in high school and Lansing Community College in Michigan. I have taken three online classes so far in high school and college. I liked all of the classes I took because I could move at my own pace and the material was there whenever I needed it to be. Lectures are good for learning but so are online classes, however I see it as the students ability to learn on their own. For instance, if they are not putting in the extra effort that they need to they will not learn as much as they could or should. I put a lot of effort into my classes and the only thing that “distracted” my classes or made me fall behind was me being in the hospital for three weeks. So I do think that online classes contribute to higher education because you definately put more effort into an online class then you do a lecture class.
As a professor, I feel lecture is an essential component of learning. However, ultimately, it is the students’ responsibility to apply themselves. My ultimate role is to make the students accountable by providing deadlines and assigning grades.
I think this is what motivates students to take extra steps to learn beyond self-motivation.
I don’t take online classes for anything and I would like to experience it and see how its like. I think learning in classrooms are better than doing online classes. If your in classrooms is easier because you are learning more and the teacher is teaching more than online classes you would have to do all the learning by yourself on your own time.
I am currently enrolled in an online BA program, after previously being enrolled in a traditional university. That being said, I feel that my education in the online environment is a lot more challenging. I feel I am learning more than I did when I attended tradition college. In the online environment, the student has to do all of the research themselves, they have to read an enormous amount of material (more than I ever had to read in traditional college), and they also have to take an extensive amount of notes, because the textbooks are online, and a person would go into bankruptcy if they had to buy enough ink to print all the information out. I find the online university to be exhausting, as compared to a tradtional university. Most instructors have lectures the student can watch, also they are beginning to have podcasts, and downloads for other Mp3 devices, I even had one class where the instructor posted lectures on YouTube. All in all, I would prefer going back to the classroom, if I was able to, but I definately do not feel that I am getting a substandard education, far from it.
I understand your questions. But I don’t totally agree. Last year I started an online psychology course at http://www.uned.es. And it is like Stephanie said in the previous comment, you have to do an effort, but that is not bad, you learn a lot more. It really is a challenge and I don’t want to go back to normal classrooms. I love it that I can manage my time myself.
Online courses, as I have recently learned from experience, are vastly different from a physical classroom. For some, although not myself, it is more beneficial than notes and lectures. Despite this, I believe that it is good to keep an open mind and try these new educational experiences.
Something else I would like to add is that in my experience online education is necessary for certain sub populations of students. At the big nameless online university where I still teach part-time, I almost always have students who are currently in the military. I have had students currently serving and taking courses in Bahrain, Afghanistan, and Germany. They would not be able to continue their studies and serve their country without this type of program (of course they are offered incompletes at traditional schools).
Another group that I frequently encounter is stay at home moms of pre-school aged children. They often have unreliable childcare which makes attending a traditional school challenging. Until the traditional schools more effectively accommodate these sub populations the purely online education model has its place.
A third group, includes those that are more isolated geographically. They would have to relocate their families to pursue higher education (of course if they have to do that for school, the case could be made that they would need to do this for a job after they finish their degree).
Excellent post. One would like to read this again and again because of its wonderful tips, thoughts and information.
I’m taking my first online class right now, this comment being one of my assignments. I can definitely relate to many of the problems mentioned in this article. It’s very hard to make the transition from having a teacher by your side every side of the way to trying to figure things out for yourself. Online teaching is not the best method of teaching but, with some work it can be a very affective way.
I really liked reading about your experience as an online teacher, because it made me feel better about my experiences as an online learner. I personally have taken a number of online classes, but I still feel just as lost at the start of each one. I think online education is a really great example of hoe the structure of education is changing and new societal norms are being made. Whether it is for the better or not is yet to be seen.
I am one of those online students. I am taking my senior year online due to emotional complications. I could not handle public school anymore. And at first I liked the online learning. But it quickly became a problem. I started out doing the class like I was supposed to every week day and things went well for a few weeks, but then I would realize I was ahead and decide to take the day off. One day turned to two, than three, than four and continued until I was two months behind in my classes. I’m trying to get back on track as we speak and I’m actually commenting on this blog as an assignment for my sociology class but I wish I had been more responsible about doing my classes, because this could cost me my graduation. I think I shouldn’t have been allowed to take the online classes now that I think about it. You are right in thinking that the education isn’t quite the same as going to a school or college and learning it there. I will definitely be going to school now rather than take it online. Online learning isn’t for everyone.
I do agree with some aspects of your post, but I think whether a student is successful in their online class depends a lot on what kind of learner they are. I am personally in an online class right now and I have found that I’ve benefited a lot from the independent thinking and writing I have to do. It’s just me and the computer screen and I have to do critical thinking all the time. I’ve found that this has really helped to stretch my mind. A lot of times I find in the classroom that teachers sugarcoat things too much and prevent you from thinking on your own. Like I said, I think it depends a lot on the learning style of the student. For example, if a student is more of a visual based learner they might have more trouble with an online class because it does involve a lot of reading. I also think that in our age of technology students find it easier and easier to learn how to manipulate and find their way around websites. I did struggle at first navigating around my virtual learning site Blackboard, but it did not take long at all for me to get a handle on it. I think a lot of students would say the same about their experience. Very interesting perspective.
As someone who took an online class for the first time this year, I can definitely relate to the initial confusion you felt. It takes a lot of getting used to, and is very different from the traditional classroom setting.
I have taken multiple online courses to earn a diploma and (relevant) certificate. I much prefer being able to work at my own pace, though, as mentioned previously, you get out of it what you put in.
I naively assumed it would be easy to take a few courses while working a full-time job… don’t follow in my footsteps! It requires a lot of work but hopefully as technology changes, it will become easier (ex: iPads).
I experienced teaching English online with foreign kids from South Korea and Japan. It’s a little difficult, knowing we have a very different culture and language. But you have to admire their tenacity, especially the South Koreans. They are extremely determined to learn English, and it really helps them learn faster. Still, it depends on the individual if he or she wants to learn more.
At the moment, I am taking, as my primary schooling, online classes, and my school uses the Blackboard provider, which, when I first started, I found quite confusing. There was expectations I had, because I used to use a different provider, which was called E2020, and they had video lectures that were available, but at times, I never really found them very helpful. But I did like, in a way, that there was not that option for lectures because I seem to learn better by reading and absorbing the material, rather than have someone talk for 45 minutes and then expect me to actually have absorbed what they said. I think that sometimes with lectures, people are able to find distractions and lose focus on what the lecturer is saying, because they can sit there and not have anything to do with the lectures, but when you actually have to read and learn, I find it easier to stay focused. Though I also agree with you, what are you there for then? But I find it quite nice that there is live feedback available for me when I need it, and I think that is what it is all about, having someone there for you when you need them.
I am currently enrolled in a Bb class through MVHS (it’s Sociology). As a student, I found that adjusting to the online learning environment very difficult. I have since gotten used to it and created myself a schedule. I find my hour of online work to be the most relaxing and empowering. I think the idea of lectures being posted to the class would be wonderful and help my fellow students along. Online learning has enlightened me and given me more opportunities for independence, but it also confuses me and challenges me.
Online classes definitely have a vast array of pros and cons. I am currently enrolled in an online class because the class I wanted to take did not fit into my schedule and I was interested in the material. I am glad to get experience working with the content, but I find it to be harder to take an online class than a regular class. Maybe I’m just old-school, but I enjoy the interaction between the students and teachers that non-online classes provide. When I work on my online class, it’s easy to want to spend the hour I am supposed to devote to working on it on other homework or work I have to do. It definitely requires more focus than a regular class over the same content, in my opinion, because of all of the distractions that occur around me. Overall, I am very pleased with the convenience that the class offers! I can work on my class at my own speed and whenever I want, including at home if I have some free time. I don’t find the online set-up to be too confusing.
I am currently taking my first online class right now. I feel like doing lectures would be very beneficial and keep the assignments from seeming like busy work, and just staring at a computer screen for hours on end. But then again technology has really taken over the world and some day maybe online classes will be what everyone is taking/ teaching.
I am taking an online course, and discussing education. I agree with you completely in the fact that it is so difficult to get around. I think it takes away from the educational experience and makes it more difficult to learn something. Thank you for bringing this issue to light and putting your opinion out there. It is so nice to see someone with the same mind-set.
My personal experience is distance learning is not more powerful as regular education, I interview some students better was regular students as compared to distance learning students.
Distance learning is more flexible so is greatly beneficial to students who cant attend the regular classes.
Distance learning has its own pros and cons depending on certain conditions. I am someone who prefers a regular class to an online one because I love interacting with people daily and that is where i concentrate more. An online class on the other hand is very convenient in cases where one can not attend a regular class due to other commitments.
Distance learning is the in thing now. many people think that it is cheaper and cost effective. if i may be asked, i would prefer the traditional mode of learning to distance learning. Some of us prefer seeing the teacher in front of the class to be able to understand what is being taught. Facial expression of a teacher while teaching makes me remember the topic.
This post raises important questions about the challenges and quality of online education. I appreciate the author’s transparency about adapting to a new teaching medium and the effort to add lectures and demonstrations for better student engagement. The lack of standardization in online course delivery, especially when it comes to lectures, is concerning. It’s clear that for online education to be truly effective, institutions need to provide instructors with the necessary tools and training to ensure learning isn’t compromised. Looking forward to more discussions on this topic!
Great insights on distance learning! It truly makes higher education more accessible and affordable for many. I agree that it levels the playing field—but we also need thoughtful design and strong student support to ensure quality and engagement. Thanks for shedding light on both the possibilities and the challenges!
Excellent overview! Distance learning really broadens access to higher education and can help reduce costs—but only when paired with strong instructional design and robust student support. Thanks for highlighting both the potential and the pitfalls!